twenty three
"don't go breaking my heart"

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THE MAN DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING else to the couple, and then pointed towards two microphones resting on the wooden table beside the stage. Lynn once again squealed in excitement, and then grabbed a mic while jumping onto the black, shiny stage.

   Buck shook his head as his tall body entered the stage, and just a bit of nervousness riddled in the back of his throat. But he quickly shoved that all away when he saw just how happy Lynn seemed to be.

   The two stood there together for a second, before hearing a song starting to echo over the speakers. They both seemed to burst into laughter once they recognized the older song; Don't Go Breaking My Heart by Elton John.

   "Don't go breaking my heart," Buck started off, his smile turning much goofy as he tried his best with singing.

   "I couldn't if I tried," Lynn sung, and almost everyone was slightly taken back by the fact she had such a beautiful voice.

   The two continued with the romantic song while a lot of people paid attention from throughout the bar. Surely, it was mostly men staring the gorgeous Lynn down, but still.

   "Doesn't she look so...happy?" Lizzy spoke up, gazing over to the few friends she made through Lynn at the fire station.

   Chimney and Hen glanced over to the blonde Kennedy, and then back up towards Lynn and Buck sharing the stage during their song.

   "Yeah, who knew she was such a good singer?" Hen stated, staring at the smiling girl dancing softly on stage. "I mean, she's usually so broody, or sarcastic. It's weird to see her so laid back."

   "You guys should've seen her when she was a teen," Lizzy continued, letting a small smile creep onto her face as a few memories of a younger, more happier version of Lynn appeared in her mind. "She was like this everyday, except she didn't need the alcohol. She was a completely different person."

   "I like her like this," Chimney agreed, nodding with a drunk little smile crossed on his face.

   "Buck helps, you know?" Lizzy replied, and her face fell a little bit with a frown. "After our dad, I don't know, it's like a part of Lynn changed. But Buck, it's like he brings that goofy, cheerful side back."

   "Your dad?" Hen questioned, narrowing her eyes at the blonde woman, who looked just as confused back at her.

   "Lynn never told you guys?"

   "Told us what?" Chimney asked, and he sounded just as confused as the rest.

   "Our dad died when Lynn was sixteen, she blames herself for his death, even though I've always told her it was never her fault," Lizzy explained, and all the while her eyes didn't leave her younger sister dancing happily on stage. "Why am I not surprised she didn't tell you? Lynn's always been a hardass to get to know, thinks anyone who gets close to her ends up leaving."

   The friends say at the wooden bar table for a moment, just taking in the information that Lizzy laid down about their friend; about her previous trauma, her fears.

   "You didn't hear it from me, though, Lynn'll kick my ass," Lizzy spoke up through the silence, her eyes watching as the song finally came to an end and Buck and Lynn happily jumped off the stage.

   "Our lips are sealed," Hen responded, raising her arms up in the air in defense.

   "That was so much fun!"

   Lynn giggly hopped over to her friends at the bar table, and then scrunched up her nose towards her older sister. She wrapped her small arms around Lizzy, and then plopped her head on the woman's shoulder.

   "Guys, tell Evan that he's a good singer!" Lynn protested, pointing warningly towards Buck as he only shook his head with a slick smile. "He says he's not, but he totally is."

   "Thank you, Evie, but seriously, you're the gorgeous singer here," Buck responded by rolling his blue eyes, taking back his seat at the table.

   "Oh, psh," Lynn waved off, dropping down on her wooden stool while adjusting her dress, knowing it was riding up her thighs.

   Before anyone had another chance to talk about quite anything, a sudden males voice spooked Lynn from behind her.

   "You enjoy the drink?"

   Lynn flinched from the surprise of hearing a voice straight behind her, but she quickly recovered when her eyes laid on the same good-looking man from the bar who sent her the drink earlier.

   "Hi," Lynn smiled, her eyes scanning the man tall, muscled frame while landing back on his chocolate eyes. "Uh, yeah, actually, I did."

   The man turned to the rest of Lynn's group, sending each of them a polite smile. That was all except for Buck, who was glaring harshly at the man with annoyance written all over is face.

   "I'm Oliver," the man stated, extending his hand off to Lynn, who took it with a slight smile stretching across her face.

   "Evelynn," Lynn returned, trying her best to not let the redness swell on her cheeks.

   Buck studied the man carefully, seeing the way he carried himself and how he dressed; he clearly had money and statue. He then glanced over to Lynn, who looked completely intrigued with the charming man, and he clenched his jaw as a feeling started to grow in his stomach.

   "May I offer you another drink, Evelynn?"

   Lynn glanced over to her friends, mostly Lizzy, to see if it was okay with the rest of them before he danced off with the man. And then lastly, her eyes landed on the growing annoyed Buck, and it was like something shifted in her blue eyes; they hovered.

   "Yeah, uh, I'll take you up on that offer."

   Lynn rose up from her seat at the friends table, and walked off with the good-looking man back towards his original seat at the bar.

   Buck stared the entire time she walked off, her hips swaying attractively with each step, and the way Oliver smiled down at her while pulling out her seat made something in him fire up.

   "Is that jealousy I sense?"

   Buck finally tore his eyes from Lynn and Oliver, and back towards his friends at the table. He quickly realized how noticeable it was that he was affected by the man.

   "Yeah, right," Buck quickly shrugged off, moving down to wrap his fingers around his cold beer, taking a sip of it.

   "Buckaroo's jealous!" Chimney snickered, slapping his palm on Buck's back, more so just to tease him further. "Why don't you just ask her out already?"

   "Because, me and Eve aren't like that. She's my best friend," Buck replied, glancing up back towards the brunette, who was now laughing at something Oliver had said. "Look, I need to get my stuff together. I mean, I still need to find a place to move into, and—"

   "—You know, Lynn has an empty room now that I moved out," Lizzy suggested, almost in a singsong voice as she took a swig for her own beer. "I bet if you even mentioned it, she would offer it up."

   "Oh, so just a second ago you wanted me to ask her out on a date, but now you want me to move in with her?" Buck rose a dry eyebrow towards his friends, seemingly unamused. "Maybe she'll offer it up to Oliver."

   "Jealousy is never cute, Buck," Hen rolled her eyes, placing both of her elbows on the table next to her drink. "Jesus, just talk to the woman!"

   "Yeah, yeah, maybe."

a/n: love this chapter awe!! sorry if it ended on a weird note, it's continued in the next one <3